Daily GK Updates - 1st February, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Income Tax Department launches Operation Clean Money: The Income Tax Department (ITD) launched Operation Clean Money (Swachh Dhan Abhiyan), an e-platform to analyse large cash deposits made during the demonetisation window (9 November to 30 December 2016). Under it, e-verification of large cash has been done using data analytics for comparing the demonetisation data with information in ITD databases.

2. Textile Ministry inaugurates Meghalaya’s first ever Apparel and Garment Centre at Ampati: Meghalaya’s 1st ever Apparel and Garment Making Centre was inaugurated jointly by CM of Meghalaya Dr. Mukul Sangma and Union Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani at Ampati in South West Garo Hills.

3.  India, Russia holds high-level consultations on counter-terrorism: India and Russia have held high-level consultations on counter-terrorism issues in New Delhi. Both sides shared views and assessment on the threats posed by increasing terrorist activities including India’s concern on state-sponsored, cross-border terrorism. The Indian delegation was led by Preeti Saran, Secretary (East) in the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) while the Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Oleg V. Syromolotov.

4. Labour migration rose to 90 lakh over last 5 years: Economic Survey: According to Economic Survey 2016-17, the inter-state migration of workers in India has increased substantially to 90 lakh annually between 2011-16 period compared to the previous years. The estimate of labour migration in India was based analysis of census data of 2011 and railway passenger traffic in the unreserved category and new methodologies including the Cohort-based Migration Metric (CMM).

5. Union Cabinet gives nod to modify Scheduled Castes list in Odisha: The Union Cabinet had approved the amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 to modify the list of SC in Odisha. It also approved amending the Constitution (Pondicherry) Scheduled Castes Order, 1964 to change the name of the Union territory to Puducherry from Pondicherry.

6. Economic Survey backs Universal Basic Income: It suggests that a more efficient way to help the poor will be to provide them resources directly, through a UBI. It will be an efficient substitute for a plethora of existing welfare schemes and subsidies.

7. Surajkund Mela begins in Haryana: The 31st Surajkund International Crafts Mela began in Faridabad, Haryana today. This year Jharkhand has been chosen as the theme state whereas Egypt is the partner country.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Mt. Everest to be remeasured by Survey of India: According to the Survey General of India, Swarna Subba Rao, the exercise is being done to understand plate movements and for scientific studies. Murmurs doing the round also say that the height of the peak has shrunk following the Nepal earthquake.

  

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING:

1. Reliance Defence signs contract with Ministry of Defence to construct 14 fast track patrol vessels for Indian Coast Guard: The medium range, high speed vessels would be deployed for patrolling within the exclusive economic zone, anti-smuggling, costal surveillance, anti-piracy, search and rescue operations. It will also provide support as front-line warships during emergencies.

OBITUARIES:

2. E. Ahamed passes away: Former Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed passed away following a cardiac arrest.